Cardiovascular Risk Evaluation in Patients with Critical Leg Ischemia before Vascular Surgery

Assessment of the role and investigation particularities (comparative and complementary aspects, hierarchies, preferential indication) adapted to the context of a global cardiovascular (CV) evaluation, including clinical elements, non-invasive and invasive imagistic examination in order to estimate the cardiovascular risk (CVR) and to define the revascularization therapeutic strategy in patients with critical leg ischemia (CLI). Complete and accessible evaluation involves accessible means of investigation like clinical exam, electrocardiogram, cardiac biomarkers, arterial, cardiac, and carotid ultrasonography which could be affordable in all cardiovascular departments. Non-invasive stress tests, coronary and arterial cervical angiography imaging leads in selected cases and where is possible to the identification of significant coronary and/or carotid lesions potential responsible for cardiac and cerebrovascular events after vascular surgery. The evaluation algorithm allows better risk stratification of patients with CLI in high and intermediate CVR. The “poly-arterial” status in patients with CLI changes the intervention management with a more intensive pre-operative medical treatment, while the coronary and the carotid arteries revascularization might precedes the peripheral arterial revascularization procedures, in order to reduce the CV risk status

Cardiac rehabilitation protocols outcome in frail patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation

The degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) is the most frequent valvular disease in the elderly (over 75 years), and its severe form is found in 12.4% associated with a low survival rate at 5 years (15-50%). These patients are categorised as frail and the only possible choice of treatment is transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). When cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP) were introduced after TAVI, they had a positive impact on clinical outcome, increasing the quality of life and decreasing morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly with high frailty score. This review underlines the utility of objective and functional frailty assessment in elderly patients with severe AS, before and after TAVI. Inclusion of these patients in complex and individually designed CRP could improve both QoL and short and long term outcome. Apart from exercise recommendation, a complete and ideal CRP should include nutrition counselling, occupational therapy, and psychological counselling to ensure psychosocial health, as well as social worker counselling. CRP could prevent and reduce severity of frailty by improving/increasing mobility, muscle mass and cognitive function. Further studies should aim at appraising long-term effects and prognostic relevance of CRP in frail patients undergoing TAVI

Berberine: Botanical Occurrence, Traditional Uses, Extraction Methods, and Relevance in Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Hepatic, and Renal Disorders

Berberine-containing plants have been traditionally used in different parts of the world for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, skin diseases, wound healing, reducing fevers, affections of eyes, treatment of tumors, digestive and respiratory diseases, and microbial pathologies. The physico-chemical properties of berberine contribute to the high diversity of extraction and detection methods. Considering its particularities this review describes various methods mentioned in the literature so far with reference to the most important factors influencing berberine extraction. Further, the common separation and detection methods like thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry are discussed in order to give a complex overview of the existing methods. Additionally, many clinical and experimental studies suggest that berberine has several pharmacological properties, such as immunomodulatory, antioxidative, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective effects. This review summarizes the main information about botanical occurrence, traditional uses, extraction methods, and pharmacological effects of berberine and berberine-containing plants

Biologically Active Ajuga Species Extracts Modulate Supportive Processes for Cancer Cell Development

Backround:Ajuga species have been used in traditional medicine for their diuretic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and hepatoprotective properties.Purpose: The phytochemical profile and anticancer potential of three Ajuga sp. (A. genevensis, A. chamaepitys, and A. laxmannii) from Romania was investigated.Materials and Methods: The phytochemicals were extracted from the aerial parts of Ajuga sp. by using different solvents and methods. The hydroalcoholic extracts were examined for total phenolic, flavonoid and iridoid contents, and HPLC/MS was used to analyze the polyphenolic compounds and iridoids. The phytochemical profile was also evaluated by principal component analysis in connection with antitumor efficacy of extracts. The antiproliferative potential was evaluated using the ELISA BrdU-colorimetric immunoassay. Western Blot with regard to inflammatory protein NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) p65 subunit expression in cell lysates was performed. Quantification of oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant capability was assessed by measuring catalase activity and by evaluating the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of treated cells.Results:Ajuga laxmannii ethanol extract showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content, while A. genevensis ethanol extract was more abundant in iridoids. The overall cytostatic effect of the investigated plant extracts was exerted through strong inhibitory actions on NF-κB, the key molecule involved in the inflammatory response and via oxidative stress modulatory effects in both murine colon carcinoma and melanoma cell lines.Conclusion:Ajuga laxmannii showed the most significant antitumor activity and represents an important source of bioactive compounds, possibly an additional form of treatment alongside conventional anticancer drugs

Automation possibilities in a low rotation warehouse of a Belgian manufacturing plant. A case study

Lack of appropriate warehouse ergonomics is one of the leading causes of worker injuries in industry environments. As management teams are trying to reduce the cost of doing business, they look to worker’s health statistics and realize they must improve their way of operating. The paper presents a warehouse analysis done at the request of the management team of a Belgian manufacturing plant. The factory’s warehouse was audited with focus on Kanban bin weight, storage rack height and rack width to assess the ergonomic strain it causes on workers. The paper then presents possible automation options in order to find the best fit to reduce ergonomic impact, while also optimizing the total investment cost

The ergonomics interventions evaluation. A study based on usability

ISO 9241-11 and ISO 13407 are recognized as important standards related to usability. ISO 9241-11 suggests that usability measures should cover: effectiveness (the ability of users to complete tasks using the system, and the quality of the output of those tasks), efficiency (the level of resource consumed in performing tasks) and users’ satisfaction (subjective perception when using the product, process or system). Based on these basic knowledge on usability concept the article aims to describe a proposed methodology for the global assessments of the ergonomics interventions in the case of industrial system. The research scenario consists in a survey based on a developed questionnaire that evaluate the ergonomics interventions, in terms of usability. In addition, the results of an experimental research demonstrate the testing and validation of the proposed approach. The method could be seen as an ergonomics continuous improvement one

A review of the Europe indicators on climate change - industry, innovation and infrastructure

The paper presents a study based on the European statistics available to characterize the Sustainable Development Goal 9 that calls for building resilient and sustainable infrastructure and promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialization. A debate on the achievements and the situation at the EU-28 level and comments on the Romania and the former Communist countries will be made based on the existing broad positions or discourses within the climate change: gradualism, skepticism and catastrophism. Conclusions and final debates are dedicated to the EU context development focuses on two main dimensions: research and development and innovation, and sustainable transport

Ergonomic intervention combined with an occupational and organizational psychology and sociology perspectives in production systems

The paper describes a propose interdisciplinary approach for improving working conditions in production systems. The proposed approach has been customized and apply in the case of a lean production system in order to demonstrate its efficiency and effectiveness. The research approach and its associated methodology consists of three stages: (1) a qualitative research using the Grounded Theory, which provide a theoretical model on the the employees behavior within the analyzed lean production system; (2) a quantitative research, survey based on a designed questionnaire, for the investigation of the motivation – satisfaction relation; (3) a quantitative research for the ergonomic risk assessment associated with repetitive upper limb movements (that are dominant in the case of the assembly line that has been studied) using the OCRA method for the improvement of the workers stress. The research results contribute to the knowledge development and to the the diminishing of the occupational hazards and generating workplace wellbeing

Ergonomic intervention combined with an occupational and organizational psychology and sociology perspectives in production systems

The paper describes a propose interdisciplinary approach for improving working conditions in production systems. The proposed approach has been customized and apply in the case of a lean production system in order to demonstrate its efficiency and effectiveness. The research approach and its associated methodology consists of three stages: (1) a qualitative research using the Grounded Theory, which provide a theoretical model on the the employees behavior within the analyzed lean production system; (2) a quantitative research, survey based on a designed questionnaire, for the investigation of the motivation – satisfaction relation; (3) a quantitative research for the ergonomic risk assessment associated with repetitive upper limb movements (that are dominant in the case of the assembly line that has been studied) using the OCRA method for the improvement of the workers stress. The research results contribute to the knowledge development and to the the diminishing of the occupational hazards and generating workplace wellbeing